Ruger 7X57 mm

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Keith,
I hit it off with the owner of the taxidermy place in RSA when we dropped off our trophies.
We spent easily an extra 45 minutes just talking about hunting and cartridges after the business.

He was showing me some of his personal trophies, and I asked what he had used on one lion.
He said a Rigby 275 which he pointed out immediately, and I already knew, is a 7x57 by a
British name. I asked what bullet he used and he said, Nosler 160 Partition, which amazed me because
it is what I used, too. I asked if he was worried about that with the two big male lions, and he said,
'No problem if you hit them well", but do not gut shoot them, and you really should be ready if you
need to put a second shot in them. Then he offered that he shot everything except elephant with his Rigby.
I asked if this included rhino, and he said "Yes, but I used a South African bullet called a Rhino bullet."
He explained that it was a monolithic (copper, I believe) solid and that again, a properly placed shot,
or possibly two would reliably stop a rhino without a problem.

The South Africans love and USE their 7x57s. The owner of our safari company used a 7x57 and
Fred Berger of Berger Sword Canes (and knives) was hunting on a friend's property while we were
visiting (near Kruger Park) and he was also carrying a 7x57.

I had always liked it, but the biggest things I have used it on are elk and kudu, both one shot kills.

I compare this to several other hunters at the same safari company using .338 Win Mags and the
crew spending a whole day several times chasing down a wounded impala and kudu. No substitute
for putting the bullet in the right place, and for most the big magnums make them less likely to hit
well due to the recoil.

7x57 doesn't kick the hell out of you, but kills very well. Most people will shoot it better because of that.
Paul has made a great choice, too.

Bill
 

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
Good stories Bill. From everything I've read, a 7x57 is one of those cartridges that punches above its weight class. I've always wanted a gun in that caliber but never had a reason to acquire one. I'd probably lean toward a single shot of some sort. I see it as a cartridge for the deliberate shooter, someone willing to take the time to set a shot up right before pulling the trigger. It was a cartridge that was way ahead of its time.
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
I love the 7×57 , I just don't seem to have one at the moment ...... Well not one in service anyway .

W M Bell made a legend out of the 7×57 with a 175 gr fmj RN on elephants with good effect . Shot placement and brain scrambling we're his mainstay as I read .

I don't know why the 7mm doesn't have a greater following and more cartridges although the ×57 is near perfect for the caliber .
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I think it doesn't have a bigger following for a couple of reasons.
the it wasn't invented here is a big one.
the rifles that were available as surplus were about worn out to 29 caliber.
there are no real 60-K psi loads available.
and the round gets zero factory support.
when someone does bother to make either the 7 or 8mm version they make like 50 rifles which are promptly snatched up before the general gun buyer even knows they are actually a thing.

and finally.
heaven forbid people find out a 125 year old cartridge design is better than the one they just got saami approved last week.
I mean nobody wants to put more powder in a smaller case than they use in their 0-6 and be handicapped by a 10gr lighter bullet that has a higher BC like that.
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Isn't it interesting that the uninformed hunter sees a rifle with an " X " in it's caliber markings, like the 7X57mm ? Looks at his buddy and says....." Hey Bubba, that is one of those fur - en guns ". ........ probably can't even get shells for it at Wal Mart. They treat it like the plague.

We are so swept up in " Ultra Magnums " that we've lost all track of the ballistic balance of a cartridge. Shot placement ranks well below flat trajectory and kinetic energy with Bubba.

I will seldom cross paths with any animal in N America that the 6.5X55 and the 7X57mm won't take care of.

Ben
 
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oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
I think a lot of the 7mm's, as well as the 6.5mm's shoot well beyond their meager caliber. Ones that come to mind are the 7x57/280/284 Win and 6.5x54/6.5x55/6.5 Creedmor. A lot of this has to do with the BC of the bullets in these two sizes. They are some of the highest. Many hunting bullets come close to some of the best match bullets.

I own and hunt with both a 6.5x55 Swed and a 284 Win. They have both harvested deer better and cleaner than a 308. No telling how many deer I and my buddies and son have shot with the 6.5 and none lost or ever ran for more than 25 yards. Only 3 with the 284. Both calibers have made more than one DRT kill. And my buddy has a 6.5 Creed and shot it LR at a class. Said past 800 yds it smoked the 308s and 1200 yds was almost effortless. I love the 6.5/7mms. A 7x57 and a 6.5x54 are on my bucket list!
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
One reason that I think the 7x57 hasn't gotten the respect over here that it deserves is
the loads being set up to be safe in a Rem RB. I have shot factory Fed in my Rem RB 7x57 (original
chambering) and it does fine. But you can go far, far hotter in a modern bolt gun.

I load the bullets WAY out for my Ruger if I am not loading 175 RN, and I get 2700 fps with my
160 Nosler Partition load over W760. That load worked on everything I shot with it so far,
elk, impala, blesbok, deer, gemsbok, kudu. All one shot kills.
 

MikeN

Member
First post. I appreciate being able to join this fantastic site!!
In the mid '80s Winchester for a short time chambered their M70 featherweight in 7x57 and I picked up one for boys to start shooting. They have in the last 10 or so years have moved on to 30-06's and the 7x57 has just been sitting in my safe. I have a 10 year old grandson and am wanting to start him shooting this rifle with cast and eventually taking it moose hunting. I took it out the other day and shot it with some 130gr jacketed seated to oal of 2.950. The rifle has an old Leupold 3x. The first target at 110 yds was a 5 shot "pattern" of about 12". I thought maybe my 72 year old eyes weren't getting it. I switched to my Remington 700 in .270 Win and shot a 5/8" 5 shot group. I guess the eyes are ok.
I want to start shooting the 7x57 with cast and purchased some 145 gr. gas checked from Gardners Cache which are cast from a RCBS 082150 silhouette mold. I'm wondering if this M70 might need the bullets seated out further than I have been? I love the caliber and am going to get it to shoot if I can.
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Hello, MikeN! From a new member to another, welcome!
12in pattern at 110y; something wrong with the scope, mount or action screws, maybe?
Good luck, and happy shooting!
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
something is definitely moving around there.

the rcbs 145gr silhouette bullet will shoot fine in the 7x57.
just let the nose on that bullet do it's thing, and don't try for high speeds.
it will give you good accuracy at about 1700 fps.
 

KHornet

Well-Known Member
On my frist African hunt to Numibia. took my 7x57 M77 Ruger.
When I got in the vehicle with the PH, his rifle was in the seat
between us. Yep, a 7x57 on a mauser frame. I took 10 head
of game with my rifle, longest was a heartabeast 437yds (Lazered).
Most of the shots were in the 200-250 yd range. Most game was
one shot kills, 3 of the 10 required a second shot. I shot 154 gr.
Hornady's with just shy of a max load (cant remember the
powder. IMO, with well placed shots, 7x57 is capable of any
North American game, with the possible exception of the big
brown bear (Kodiak). I took mine with a 375 H7H.

Paul
 
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Ole_270

Well-Known Member
Always wanted a 7x57 after loading for my father in laws "slightly customized" M95. I think Bubba played a large part in that customization, and a larger amount of beer.
I do have a M70 Classic Fwt in 7-08, but it's not the same thing. A few years ago I traded for a beat up JC Higgins 51-L in 308, planning on rebuilding on the Husky HVA action for a good quality small ring 7x57. The stock was broken up with the block between the recoil mortise and the magazine well busted completely loose. On a whim I tried gluing the thing backe together with brass rods and acraglass, then bedded it. Knew better but some dummies just need to shoot the donor. The thing shoots pretty good after a major bore cleaning project. Now I don't have that nice light 7x57!
Those laminates look pretty good, but I just can't like the slick oily feel or the added weight of any I've handled. Maybe I just need to handle one Ben has reworked.
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
I have a DWM that just got its clearance for finish to work for a living . It has one of the last of the Adams & Bennett GM blank barrels fitted in 7×57. It's up for the next go around .
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
The laminate stocks are good looking and very stable, but too heavy for a carrying rifle. For a bench
rifle, definitely a good choice.

Bill
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Yes Bill , you're right, the laminates add a good bit of weight to the rifle.

Ben
 

MikeN

Member
Thanks for the comments. Sorry for the slow response - been out moose hunting. I'm definitely going to figure this little M70 out this winter. One of my sons killed a couple of moose with it in years past, and it'll do it again!
 

Fiddler

Active Member
When I rebarreled my 03A3 the 7X57 was considered. Ended up with a 4 groove GI Springfield, price was 1/4 of a Douglas, brass and molds were not a problem.
A Ruger ultralite with tang safety in 250 Savage came my way years ago. Great for carrying, 3 shots in 3/4" at a 100 yds, Only used 3 cartridges for the 3 deer I shot.